I realize I'm about to make a huge generalization, but for me, I think the amount of the tip (percent-wise) usually is dependent on where I'm eating at, and their cost of the food. I mean, when it gets right down to it, whether you're eating at Montgomery Inn or the Waffle House, the waiter/waitress has many of the same duties to the customer:

1.) Get their drink order

2.) Return with drinks

3.) Take dinner order

4.) Check if drink refills are necessary (multiple times)

5.) Deliver dinner order (and sometimes at certain restaurants, the waitress isn't even the one doing this)

6.) Follow up on quality of food

7.) Check to see if anything else is desired (ie. dessert, coffee, etc.)

8.) Bring the check, return for payment, deliver receipt and change

 

So why does the waitress who does "poorly" at Montgomery Inn on a $100 order still deserve $15 (for those of you who say you don't go lower than 15%), and the gal down at the Waffle House who does "great" and only gets $10 (that's 40% of a $25 bill)? And don't tell me the food is better, so the waitress deserves more. That's why I'm paying $25 for a slab of ribs versus $3 for a waffle. But, service is service.

What if everything was perfect and they overlooked reminding you there is a charge, you're going to stiff them out of $20 or more over that?

 

I think if your service is genuinely so bad that you're going to stiff someone then it's bad enough to tell a higher-up so they can take care of the issue.

Never said that. I would probably address it with them and still leave them a solid tip. For me to stiff someone entirely it has to be a pretty bad experience. I'm not sure I've ever completely stiffed someone. But I'm sure as hell not leaving 20% for terrible service. Let's face it, it's not rocket science. If you can't manage to keep my drink filled and make sure I get what I ordered you need to find a new job anyway. And I agree that flat awful service needs to be brought to the managers attention.

^95% of the time the food isn't correct is the fault of the kitchen, not the wait staff. Completely wrong to take that out on them.

^95% of the time the food isn't correct is the fault of the kitchen' date=' not the wait staff. Completely wrong to take that out on them.[/quote']

 

Which many understand. I've had wrong/bad food with a fantastic server before, I've also had amazing food with terrible service.

 

I'm not tipping based on the food.

I don't think bad service should be rewarded, but I think outside of a handful of basics the quality of service is pretty subjective. There are some people whose definition of stellar service is a server who gets their order, food, and check promptly and doesn't interrupt and annoy them otherwise. There are probably just as many people who consider that kind of service extremely rude and inattentive. I'd be willing to bet there are as many people who would have been upset if the server waited until the milk was empty before they reminded them there was a charge for refills, and probably not a shortage of people who would have found it insulting to be reminded refills are extra, especially at a place like Montgomery Inn. So, I generally tip 20% in those situations as long as the basics are right. And I can't remember the last time I had service that bad.

Yeah if omitting the milk price was the only thing she did poorly then stiffing her on a tip is a horrible thing to do.

Yeah if omitting the milk price was the only thing she did poorly then stiffing her on a tip is a horrible thing to do.

You wouldn't be the first person to call me horrible.

 

I will just be sure not to order milk if I venture to Montgomery Inn.

All kidding aside, I will reward a server highly for excellent service but at the same time "put one over on me" (yes that is how I see it) and the opposite will be true.

You wouldn't be the first person to call me horrible.

 

I will just be sure not to order milk if I venture to Montgomery Inn.

 

:lol: not calling you horrible by any means. I said it would be a horrible thing to do.

 

Why would you not tip for one small omission if the rest of the service was really good?

I explained that in my next post.

I explained that in my next post.

 

I don't see much of an explanation there. Just an "if you make one small mistake, I'm taking it personally and stiffing you for it".

 

I'm curious as to why you would take that attitude towards going out to eat?

I don't see much of an explanation there. Just an "if you make one small mistake, I'm taking it personally and stiffing you for it".

 

I'm curious as to why you would take that attitude towards going out to eat?

 

Seriously!? Do we really have to go through this again? I don't see it as a mistake. I think it is unethical. I realize many of you are not going to agree but that is how I see it. If I am being charged $3 for every 5 ounces of milk my child drinks the restaurant/server needs to be upfront about it. That could easily turn into $15 or $20 for about $1 worth of milk.

 

Seriously!? Do we really have to go through this again? I don't see it as a mistake. I think it is unethical. I realize many of you are not going to agree but that is how I see it. If I am being charged $3 for every 5 ounces of milk my child drinks the restaurant/server needs to be upfront about it. That could easily turn into $15 or $20 for about $1 worth of milk.

 

I understand what you're saying but you just have this one experience as a sample size. It could have been unethical and it could have also been an honest mistake because she was having a bad day and had stuff on her mind. Probably have to see if its a regular occurrence at that establishment or if it was just a one time thing.

I understand what you're saying but you just have this one experience as a sample size. It could have been unethical and it could have also been an honest mistake because she was having a bad day and had stuff on her mind. Probably have to see if its a regular occurrence at that establishment or if it was just a one time thing.

 

Maybe but like I said a server should know the menu inside and out and something like this should never happen. One or two people taking the server to task over it may well turn a bunch of mediocre tips into a bunch of really good ones over the long run.

 

What kills me is most of you that were in the business at one time want to give the server a pass, blame the kitchen, talk to the manager (I agree with this one to a point like I mentioned in this thread), say the customer is that guy, blah blah blah. Take some responsibility and quit rationalizing every bad tipper as one of those customers. In other words, look in the mirror each time you get nailed on a tip and you will probably make a lot more money in the long run.

I don't see much of an explanation there. Just an "if you make one small mistake, I'm taking it personally and stiffing you for it".

 

I'm curious as to why you would take that attitude towards going out to eat?

How do you know she wasn't just trying jack up the bill? I see this as where Guru is going and I agree with him. Like I said "refill" usually means free, "would you like another one" means an additional charge. I've seen my share of waiters/waitresses pull subtle things to up the bill. When I see that, tip goes down.